Crimping-machine for boots and shoes



(No Mddel.)

L. KNETZGER. ORIMPING MACHINE FOR BOOTS AND SHOES. No. 350,065.

Patented Sept. 28, 1886.

S e S S m W UNITED STATES PATENT FFICEQ LEONARD KNETZGER, OF DUQUO IN, ILLINOIS.

CLPECL'FICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,065, dated September 28, 1886.

Application tiled June 25, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, LEWIS Ksurzunn, of

Dnquoin, Perry county, in the State of 111i nois, have invented new and useful Improve ments in Crimping-h'lachines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and accurate description of the same.

Heretofore Letters Patent Nos. 165,97 7 and 177383 were granted to me for machines for stretching and crimping leather, and my pres ent invention, described herein, relates to improvements in said invention; and it consists, first, in the device for laterally stretching the edge of the leather blank; second, in the device for completely stretching the edges and corners of the blank; and, third, in the devices whereby all the several operations are conducted and completed on a single machine.

Figure 1 is a perspective of my machine. Fig.2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the boot-upper as it comes from the crimper. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of the same as it comes from the stretcher and linisher. Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the finisher-saddle for shoe-uppers. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the erimpcrblade with stretching-ribs.

The frame of my machine consists, essentially, of two standards, A, longitudinally grooved on their inner sides to constitute guides for the sliding crimper B. The standards A A. are connected at top by the head frame C, and at bottom by the cross-bar I), and are provided with feet- E. A table, F, is attached to the standards to support the blank while the stretching-blade is actin Said tablc is madein two parts, slightly separated to permit the stretcher to pass between thcm,and relatively adjustable to permit them to be adapted to different thicknesses of leather. Changes in this adjustment are effected by means of screwamts u. on the tie-rods G. A clamp, H, is placed above the t-ableFto clamp and hold the leather during the action of the stretcher with sufficient pressure to insure the proper stretching of the leather. The clamp H is depressed by springs I, one at each end, the tension of which may be varied as desired, by means of tension-screws or other means usual in such cases. The lower edge, 2, of the crimping-stretcher 13 is formed approximately in the shape of the instep, ankle, and leg of Serial No. 206,219. (No model.)

the boot, and is provided on each side with two laterally-projecting ribs, 7.: It, and the table F has notches n, corresponding with said ribs 7.:, into and through which said ribs pass when the stretcher descends. The purpose of these ribs is to stretch the edge of the blank so that the crimp may be obtained with a crimping-edge more nearly straight than can otherwise be used. This is shown in Fig. 3, and was fully explained in my Patent No. 165,977. In my said patent only a single rib on each side of the former is employed; but I have found for many grades of leather it is incxpcdient to force the entire required stretch at one point. I therefore employ herein two or more ribs 7c, and thus distribute the stretch at a corresponding number of points along the edge of the blank, as shown at 7 Fig. 3. The clamp is automatically raised by lugs (1, which project laterally from the sides of the crimpcr B beneath said clamp. They are heated so that on the upward stroke of said crimper they engage said clamp after said crimper has passed out of the matrix, and vice versa on the downstroke the clamp engages the leather before the crilnper arrives.

The stretcher B is provided along its vertical edge with a rack, Z, in engagement with a pinion, m, on the shaft 10, and operated by the lever O. \Vhcn said levers are pulled over a ,horizontal position, the crimpcr is forced to descend, and when said lever returns to its initial position said crimpcr ascends again to its initial position. The blank is laid upon the table in proper position with its median line under the edge of the stretcher. The ic ver 0 is then pulled over and the stretcher and clamp descend upon the table. The clamp holds the leather with considerable pressure, so that as the leather is forced down through the opening in the table the resistance of the clamp causes it to be stretched to conform approximately to the form of the stretcher. After being erimped and stretched, as described above, the blank still needs a finishing stretch. before it will acquire its desired final shape and finish. I therefore place at the top of the frame A the frame or matrix bars 0, which are adjustable as to each other to increase or diminish the space between, according to the thickness of the leather and the former,which is constituted by the upper edge, 1', of the stretching-plate B, and is brought into action when the plate B is moved upward by the lever 0. The form of the edge 1' is that which is proper for the finished crimped upper, and

I 5 the lower edge of the matrix is correspondingly shaped, but with the point u prominent, so it will encounter the leather first near the instep, ,and will progressively stretch it in both directions therefrom, the effect being a contintwo or more laterally-projecting ribs 70 k, combined with the divided table F, provided with lateral-extending notches n, corresponding with said ribs, whereby the edge of the 3 blank is, stretched at several points, as set forth.

3; In a crimping and stretching machine, the

plate B, fitted to slide in the frame A, and provided on its free ends with the crimping and 0 stretching edges t and 0', respectively, combined with the crimping-table F, clamp H, matrix 0, and means for actuating said plate B, as set forth.

4. In a crimping and stretching machine, a 45 divided table, 1 a clamp, H, held down upon 10 uous stretch in the line of movement, and also lateral thereto in both directions. The leather is thereby stretched completely and uniformly throughout and to the edges. It frequently happens, however, that it is desired to stretch l 5 blanks for shoes, or those which are less than shapes of uppers.

a whole upper, and it is sometimes desirable, also, to vary the shape, and I have therefore provided a saddle-piece,-S, adapted to fit over and be secured to the stretcher 1', having its 20 working-edge in the required shape. Saddlepieces S may be provided in suclrvariety as may be needed to suit the different sizes or Having described my invention, I clai m 1. In a crimping-machine, the divided table F, with adjustable tension-pressure springs on rods G, combined with. the stretching-plate B, fitted to slide in the frame A, the

and the operative racks Z, pinion m, and lever O, substantially as set forth.

2. The stretching -plate B, provided with clamp H,

said table by springs, combined with a stretching plate or blade provided with lugs q, to engage and automatically raise said clamp when said stretchingplate is retracted, substantially as set forth.

5. In a crimping and stretching machine, a stretching plate or blade, and a matrix, combined with a removable saddle-piece, S, adapt ed to fit on and be secured to said blade, where by the form of the working edge of the stretcher may be varied, as set forth.. I

LEONARD KNETZGER.

\Vi tn esses C. KLoo E, P. STRUNCK. 

